HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO NEWS 8 NOW, I'M TRACY SABOL POLICE IN WATERVILLE ARE INVESTIGATING WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A "PARENTAL ABDUCTION." INVESTIGATORS SAY 34-YEAR-OLD BETH- MARIE RETAMOZZO TOOK OFF WITH HER TWO KIDS THURSDAY AFTERNOON. POLICE SAY SHE DOES NOT HAVE CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN. OFFICERS THINK RETAMOZZO MAY BE HEADING TO NEW YORK OR FLORIDA AND THAT HER CHILDREN COULD BE IN DANGER. MISSING ARE SEVEN- YEAR-OLD JOSLYN AND SIX YEAR-OLD JOEL RETAMOZZO. POLICE SAY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A GRAY 19-99 NISSAN QUEST MINIVAN, WITH NEW YORK PLATES. IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION, THEY'RE ASKED TO CONTACT POLICE. MAINE'S SCHOOL CHIEF IS STEPPING DOWN TO WORK FOR A "NATIONAL NON- PROFIT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION". EDUCATION COMMISSIONER STEPHEN BOWEN RESIGNED AND IS HEADING-OFF TO "D-C" TO WORK FOR THE "COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS." BOWEN SAYS HE WILL HELP OTHER STATES ESTABLISH POLICY CHANGES TO TRANSFORM THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEMS. BOWEN WILL STEP DOWN ON SEPTEMBER 12TH AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS ON THE JOB. AN ACTING COMMISSIONER WILL BE CHOSEN SOON. BOWEN BROUGHT SEVERAL CHANGES TO MAINE EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE "A-F" "PERFORMANCE GRADING SYSTEM" OF THE STATE'S SCHOOLS AND MOST RECENTLY A WAIVER OF THE FEDERAL "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW". "Education reform is tough to do. Not everything is gonna be popular. I think the governor has made it clear. We can't wait around we have to really significantly improve student achievement. We've gotta be bold. We've gotta embrace new ideas. We can't be afraid to try things." BOWEN'S LAST DAY ON THE JOB IS SEPTEMBER 12-TH..... HE SAYS HIS STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION AGENDA UNTIL HIS SUCCESSOR IS FOUND. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON NEWS-8 NOW. I'M TRACY SABOL. MAKE SURE TO CHECK BACK AT WMTW DOT COM AND OUR MOBILE APP FOR THE TOP STORIES AND WEATHER ANYTIME. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.